Joseph Godfrey

[Elma]

Hi Everyone
My Joseph Godfrey was born in 1822 in Street, Somerset. He was the illegitimate son of Ann Godfrey. I only connected him to the family in 1881 when a cousin was visiting him and it was recorded on the census. Joseph was now living in Twickenham and was described as a Navy Pensioner. He appears to have spent quite a while in the Navy. I am still having trouble working out his marriages and family. I know he was stationed at Woolwich for some years before retiring to keep a beer house in Shepperton. Can anyone point me in the direction of Navy records 1840-1870.
His wives I believe are 1. Catherine 2. Mary Stratton and 3.Sarah. In his retirement he appears then to cohabit with his cousin Elizabeth Godfrey.
it is always good to find a new member of the family but Joseph has not made it easy, any suggestions?
with thanks Elma

[Jan1954]

Hello Elma,

Have a look at this TNA Research Guide if he was a Rating.

This Research Guide is for Officers.

[Sandyhall]

Hi
There is a marriage for Joseph Godfrey on the same page is a Sarah Ann Small Sept qtr 1877, Woolwich, Kent. Vol no: 1d. Page no: 1402.

Any of the Children's birth cert. will give you mother's maiden name, that is if he had children with all of this wives

Sandy

[janbooth]

From his first marriage to Catherine:

Catherine Jane Lavinia GODFREY birth registered September qtr 1848 at Greenwich reg district, vol 5, page 268 (GRO Index). This birth certificate will give you Catherine's maiden name.

Catherine June Lavinia GODFREY baptised 3 September 1848 at St Nicholas, Deptford, parents Joseph & Catherine GODFREY of Royal Dock Yard, Joseph being a Corporal in the Royal Marines

From his second marriage to Mary Ann:

Born 22 August 1854 bap 28 Feb 1858 at Woolwich, Kent William Alfred Boscawen GODFREY son Joseph & Mary Ann GODFREY of 13 Samuel Street, Colour Sergeant Royal Marines

Born 2 February bap 28 Feb 1858 at Woolwich, Kent Frederick George Rodney GODFREY son Joseph & Mary Ann GODFREY of 13 Samuel Street, Colour Sergeant Royal Marines

Born 6 December 1859, bap 28 Sep 1862 at Woolwich, Kent Joseph Hall GODFREY son Joseph & Mary Ann GODFREY of 33 Kidd Street, Colour Sergeant Royal Marines

Born 1 Sep bapt 28 Sep 1862 at Woolwich, Kent Ann GODFREY daughter Joseph & Mary GODFREY of 33 Kidd Street, Colour Sergeant Royal Marines (London Birth & Baptisms Registers via Ancestry)

Janet

[janbooth]

Further to the above, there is a burial on 29 July 1863 at Woolwich of a Catherine GODFREY of Kidd Street, aged 41 - should this perhaps be Mary Ann GODFREY??

There is also this marriage from the London Registers via Ancestry:

10 March 1869 at St Marylebone Joseph GODFREY, widower, Greenwich Pensioner of St Marylebone, father William GODFREY, Farm Servant married Sarah RATCLIFF, full age, spinster of St Marylebone, father James RATCLIFF, Coal Merchant. Witnesses: William DONALDSON & Eliza RATCLIFF. This sounds a likely contender given that your Joseph was married prior to the 1871 census.

From his marriage to Sarah:

Baptised 21 July 1872 at St Mary Magdalen, Littleton Arthur Charles Henry GODFREY son Joseph & Sarah GODFREY of Shepperton Green, Pensioner

HTH further

Janet

[Kerrywood]

My Joseph Godfrey was born in 1822 in Street, Somerset. ... and was described as a Navy Pensioner. He appears to have spent quite a while in the Navy. ... Can anyone point me in the direction of Navy records 1840-1870.

In the light of Janbooth's findings, it seems he was in the Marines rather than the Navy, which would make sense if he was living in Woolwich. Both seamen and marines were eligible for pensions from Greenwich Hospital.

You may find that this is his service record at the National Archives? You can order a copy online by clicking Request This (top right) and following the instructions.

Kerrywood

[Elma]

Such a lot of information I am so grateful.
I am a bit confused, the death of Catherine Godfrey, 33 Kidd Street looks right but Catherine was Josephs first wife or was she also Mary Ann? I am leaning toward that. I have lots to work on. Perhaps a visit to Kew to study the Naval records should be the next step!
Thank you
Elma

[Elma]

I have ordered the records for Joseph and am very excited!
ELMA

[Sandyhall]

Hi
I had found the same as Janet regarding the birth of the children.

Some more I found
Joseph Godfrey and his Cousin Elizbeth Godfrey - 1881 Census she is a widow and his housekeeper.
There is a mariage June qtr 1882 at Islington, both names are on the same page Joseph Godfrey and Elizabeth Godfrey Vol No: 1b, Page No: 613.

With the info from the Census about Elizabeth, date and place of birth, I found her on the 1861 with her mother Lydia Godfrey, she is married and has children but no husband with them.

Lydia Godfrey 68 mother
Elizabeth Godfrey 26 Daughter Married
Frances L Godfrey 5 Granddaughter
Alfred G 3 Grandson
Joseph Westaby 25 Lodger

Thinking along the lines Lydia was Mother-in-Law and not Mother, I looked for her in the 1851 Census and found she is Elizabeth's mother

Lydia Godfrey 57
Fanny Godfrey 26
George Godfrey 24
Elizabeth Godfrey 18
William Godfrey 15

I then found a marriage in Bristol, March qtr 1856, Vol no: 6a, Page No: 109. Names on the same page Charles Godfrey and Elizabeth Godfrey.


Charles Godfrey 53 appears on th 1871 Census with Elizabeth and children,
Elizabeth Godfrey 38
Frances L Godfrey 15
Alfred Godfrey 13
Florence E Godfrey 9
William H Godfrey 7
Joseph Godfrey 4
Geo H Chaffey 19 - Lodger

I also found another marriage - Joseph Godfrey and a Sarah Ann Small on the same page in Woolwich, Sept qtr 1877, Vol no: 1d, Page no:1402.
Sandy

It don't help you with Joseph Godfrey Navy records though.

[Elma]

Thank you everyonefor all the information and now it is time for me to send for some certificates to try and iron it out

Clever work Sandy I think though Elizabeth Godfrey is a daughter in law of Lydia. She married George Godfrey who was Lydia's older son! I do not have their marriage certificate which I will now get, to see was she really a Godfrey and then work out how does she fit in?. With my Navy records ordered, a new dimension has opened up.
What a brilliant website and some very dedicated people.
ELMA